CV Joint Replacement...

Got some clicking coming out of the left front when making right hand turns in the daily driver (2001 Ford Focus ZX3).  I'm assuming that it is a CV joint beginning to fail.  Never had one fail before in any of the front wheel drive cars I've owned over the years - but then this one is the highest miler I've ever owned also (215K).

Is replacing a CV joint something an average driveway mechanic with an average array of tools can do?  I haven't looked it up yet in any of the manuals I have so don't beat me up too badly. 

I think you could handle it, Jim. You'll need a large socket, and impact wrench to remove the nut on the wheel end of the axle. You'll need to raise it up and disconnect the lower ball joint, swing the spindle/hub assy out of the way, and pry/pop the inner cv joint out of the trans. You'll loose a little trans fluid, so have a drainbucket under there.
To re-install, be SURE the inner joint is completely seated back into the trans. Turn the axle to where the snap ring opening is facing down....and then pop the axle back in the trans quickly in one pop(usually...if yer lucky).
Reassemble the rest in reverse order.

No doubt a large metric socket...!?!?!?!  Which I probably don't have in my collection.  Will the front-end need to be realigned after putting it all back together?  I didn't do that after replacing the front springs 'cuz everything seemed to go back together exactly the way it came apart - but I chewed up a pair of tires in short order.

No alignment should be needed.
Not sure what size the nut is, but it's in the area of 30-33mm, I think. A regular SAE socket will work if ya have one large enough...1 5/16" or so? Maybe larger.

btw...just for everyone's info...
A "clicking"(click-click-click) noise as you turn while accelerating(on a fwd car) is always the outer CV joint. A "clunk", or "pop" when taking of going straight will be the inner CV joint....less common than the outer joint failing, since the outer joint must move left/right/up/down, all while spinning. The inner joint mostly just slightly moves up/down while spinning.
CV joint 101 is now over.....